I recently went to India last month to see my first truly Punjabi wedding. It was my first cousin’s wedding and since she was the bride, it was even more exciting! Here are ten reasons why Punjabi weddings Are The Best!
1.) Dolled Up.
Punjabi weddings are a very auspicious occasion. The more jewelry and more elaborate the Lehenga and Dupatta the better! The bride will be dolled out in the most expensive of everything. In Punjabi weddings, jewelry is an important part of the bridal wear and she will be adorned in as many pieces as possible.
2.) Nonstop Celebration.
These weddings in particular could last for months with the number of traditions that are celebrated. It’s not just the wedding day that you are required to attend. There are many more parties that are bigger and better than the wedding day like the Mehndi Ceremony and Jaago. Be ready to PARTY if you are invited to attend a Punjabi wedding.
3.) The Whole Community.
A Punjabi Wedding is a time for the community to bless this newlywed couple for their lives together as husband and wife. So expect around a couple hundred, most likely thousands, of guests on the day of the wedding. Sometimes, even the bride and groom won’t know all the guests. But the more the merrier, right?
4.) The Punjabi Aunties.
Everyone knows that particular Punjabi aunty. She will be gossiping with all the other aunties at the wedding usually bragging about how wonderful her children are. This aunty will also be searching for potential brides or grooms for her son or daughter. DISCLAIMER: If you are single, be warned. She might just approach you. She has ears that can sense drama from a mile away so you can be sure she will be at the scene before everyone else.
5.) Money, Money, Money.
There is a never-ending flow of cash at a Punjabi wedding. Like the scene from "The Wolf Of Wall Street" with Leonardo DiCaprio throwing cash. It is a tradition to throw cash over the bride and groom when they enter the reception party. I made the mistake of finding cash on the floor thinking it was dropped by someone and was told to quickly throw it back on the floor. The money is a form of blessing and it is the belief that the most needy will provide the strongest blessing.
6.) Drunk Uncles.
These uncles have drunk too much alcohol and think they're fine when they're actually not. These uncles usually are the ones that start fights over catering and how the food tastes really bad. In reality, the catering service is actually good, and the drunk uncles do not know what they are talking about. Cash is usually thrown by these drunk uncles when they are on the dance floor, though it is just for showing status. When they wake up the next day, they realize that most of their money was thrown on the dance floor.
7.) Suited Up Guest.
Every Punjabi will own at least one decorated-out outfit for attending weddings. It is the norm to be decked up in the most elaborate Punjabi suit with embroidery along with a matching dupatta. The Punjabi women will wear heavily applied makeup in the fairest shade of foundation but the most vibrant lipstick and eyeshadow. While all the guests are beautifully dressed, they will never outshine the bride who will always have the most jewelry and bridal mehndi. You can always tell who the bride is from the crowd. A Punjabi wedding is a sea of colors making it a feast for the eyes!
8.) Let’s Party!
You probably have already guessed by now that Punjabis know how to party given they celebrate weddings with multiple traditions. They also provide a never-ending supply of alcohol at every occasion. Anything from Whisky to Scotch to more Whisky and Scotch.
9.) Loud Music.
There has to be entertainment and Punjabi music at every Punjabi wedding. Many weddings have traditional dancers or singers to perform at their wedding reception. There will also be a live DJ. You can expect every pre-wedding celebration to have some form of entertainment that will be just as bright and loud as Punjabis are.
10.) Over the Top.
A Punjabi wedding is always going to be over-the-top in almost every way possible. There will either be silks of every color draped everywhere or faux flowers hanging brightly from anything that stands still and just about anything that they can imagine. There is no limit to their imagination. Just about everything a Punjabi does for a wedding is over-the-top, from the bridal attire to the jewelry, makeup, food, entertainment and so on. There is no such thing as too much!
